Vehicle-wheel



W. E. SHERWOOD.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

l APPLICIVI'IONl FILED MAR. I5, 1919. `1,369,847.' Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

UNITED sTATss PrsNT OFF-loaf Y WILLIAM E. SVI-IERWOOD, OF CANSTOTA., NEW' YORK, ASSGNOR T0 SHERWOD BROTHERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY INC., 0F CANASTOTA., NEW YORK,A

CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

A Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 1,1921.

Application led March 15, 1919. Serial No. 282,858.

To zZZ who/nait may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. SHER-V ings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relatesto certain unprovements in vehicle wheels, the objects being lightness, strength, durability and economy of manufacturing and assembling, and at the Sametime to make suitable provisions for the reception and retention of a series of lroller bearings in the hub for reducing friction upon the supporting axle (not shown). e

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts will be broughtout in lthe following description.

In ythe drawings v Figure 1 1s anend viewof a vehicle Wheel embodying the various features of minvention. l p

ig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view on line 2 2, Fig. l e

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken l on t-he plane of line 3 3, Fig. 2

Fig. lt is a detail sectional view through kone of the spokes taken on line 4 4, Fig. -1-.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View taken on line 5 5, Fig. 3 y,

As illustrated this wheel comprises a hub 1 `spokes 2 and a rim 3 all of which are made of relatively light sheet or rolled metal.

The hub 1 consists of a: tubular cylindrical shell and similar end heads or caps 5 applied to the Iopposite endsl of the cylindrical shell 4 and kheld iniplace in a manner hereinafter described.,n

The shell 4- is made of sheet metal and is therefore of uniform thickness throughoutl its area.

The end heads or caps 5 are identical and interchangeable each consisting of a circular cup-shaped disk of sheet metal of greaterl diameter than that of the shell l walls of` the chambers 6 being slightly tapered outwardly to a diameter substantially equal with that of the adjacent ends.

of the tubular shell 4- over and upon whichwthey are adapted to tightly fit when Y the heads are drawn toward each other l against the end of the tube.

The center outwardly pressed portions of the ,heads or capsV 5 extend radially across and abut against the ends yof thetube 4 and are provided with central openings 8 for receiving a shaft or axle (not shown).

The flanges 7 of both heads are substantially radial and parallel 'when assembled upontheends of theltube 1- p01'- tions of each iiange at regular intervals throughout its circumference length beingstruck up or pressed outwardly 9- along radiallines to for-m radial channels l0-i `v in its inner face for the reception and retention of the adjacent ends of the spokes 2 That is, 'the circumferential Width of the channels 10 and adjacent ends of the spokes 2- are substantially equal, while the axial depth of the channelsfis substantially equal to theA thickness of the spokes, so that when'the inner ends of the spokes are assembled in the channels they are held radially against circumferential displacement by the walls thereof. y

rllhese channels 1 0 are spaced 'uni-v form distances apart circumferentially, and when the heads 5- are assembled upon the ends of the tube lthe channels l0 of both are axially alined to permit the spokes Q to be assembled in pairs'or directly opposite each other.

The spokes Q are also made of sheet metal, and are preferably ribbed longitudinally at 11 between the hub and rim for reinforcing purposes, the ribs being formed by pressing the longitudinal centers of the spokes beyond their edges. The inner ends of the opposite sets ofthe spokes which are seated on the channels 10 are preferably parallel and abut against the periphery 4of the tubular hub section i said ends being curved circumferentially to conform to the curvature of said "tubular hub section, and thereby assist in holding the spokes in their radial positions. y

Itis now clear that the inner ends of the spokes of each pair and are spaced equal distances from and at opposite sides of the transverse center of the hub and abut against the inner faces of the flanges 7 in axial alinement with each other, and are firmly held in this position by stay bolts or spacing members 12 having reduced ends l3 passing through registering apertures M in the flanges 7 and adjacent portions of the spokes 2 as shown more clearly in Figs. Q and 5 the reduced ends l3 of the stay bolts forming shoulders abutting against the inner faces of Kthe spokes Q to hold the latter firmly in the inner faces of the flanges 7 the outer ends of fthe registering portions Y lllbeing upset or riveted against the outer faces or flanges 7 to firmly secure the inner ends of the spokes to the end heads 5 and at the same time firmly holding said heads against the ends of the tube 4 The main bodies of the spokes of each pair converge outwardly from the flanges 7 toward the rim 3- at substantially equal angles with the central plane of the 'wheel and axis thereof, the outer ends of said spokes abutting against the inner face of the rim 3 at opposite sides of the circumferential flange 3 which forms an integral part of said rmi, as shown 1n Figs. 1 and 2 the outer end faces of the spokes being curved circumferentially to conformto the inner face of the rim 3 and to assure greater rigidity of connection between the rim and spokes.

The outer ends of the spokes of each pair are secured preferably by spot welding to opposite faces of the flange 3 of the rim 3 for firmly holding the rim in concentric relation to the hub.

v.A plurality of anti-friction rollers l5 are assembled circumferentially within the tubular hub section l-'- between the end heads or caps 5 in such a manner as to be self-retaining against inward radial displacement by bearing one against the other, and against the inner face of the shell lt l leaving a central opening of sullicient size to receive the shaft or axle (not shown), the diameter of the several rollers being sufficient to cause their inner faces to project slightly beyond the walls of the opening 8- on the end heads 5 to allow them to bear upon the shaft without friction between said shaft and the walls of the openings 8 In assembling the arts of the wheels one of the heads or dislis 5 may vbe laid upon a flat support with its concave side uppermost after which the tube 4 may be inserted in the recess, and the spokes at the adjacent end seated in their respective channels 10 and held therein by placing the bolts 12- in operative position.

The rim 3 may then be placed upon the upper faces of the outer ends of the lower set of spokes after which the other set of spokes may be placed in operative position upon the upper reduced ends of the bolts 12 The rollers 15 may then be inserted in within'a comparatively short time, and` with a minimum amount of labor, andA atthe same time produces an exceptionally strong wheel from comparatively. light sheet metal.

What I-claim is K i 1. A vehicle wheel comprising a tubular hub section, a series of spacing members arranged circumferentially around the hub section parallel with the axis thereof, spokes abutting against opposite ends of the spacing members and having vtheir inner ends abutting against the periphery 'of the vhub section, a series of rollers arranged lwithin the hub section and opposite end heads abutting against the adjacent ends of the hub section and extending inwardly across portions of the corresponding ends of the rollers to hold the latter against endwise displacement, said heads extending inwardl around the periphery of the adjacent len s ofthe hub section and engaged with the outer faces of the spokes, said spacing members having means for securing the end heads of the. outer faces of the spokes and adjacent portions of the spokes to the spacing members, and a rim secured to the outer ends of the spokes.

2. In a vehicle wheel of the character described a tubular hub'section, opposite end heads havingsockets in their adjacent faces fitting closely upon theends of the tube,

spokes resting against the inner' faces of the heads and abutting against the periphery of the tube, tie-bolts having reduced ends passed through registering apertures in the `heads and spokes and forming shoulders abutting against the inner faces of the spokes, the outer ends of said ,bolts being riveted against the outer faces of the heads to clamp the spokes to the heads, and the ner faces, spokes seated in said channels,' tie' bolts having reduced ends passed through registering apertures in the spokes and heads forming shoulders abutting against the inner faces of the spokes, the outer ends of said tie bolts being riveted against the outer faces of the heads, and a rim having an inwardly projecting circumferential flange between the outer ends of the opposite sets of spokes,

said outer ends of the spokes being spot 10 WILLIAM E. sHERwooD.

Witnesses: s

H. E. CHASE, ANNA G. JORDAN. 

